Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-11-19
Countess nalODa.
BY wILKIE COLLINS.
By wILKIE COLLINS.
CHAPTER XII.
THE FIRST PART.

aShe has frightened me. am ashamed to
ownit-but so it is
Henry looked at her, hesitated for mo-
ment, and seated himself on the sofa by her
side.
II am very anxious about you, Agnes, he
said. "But for the fortunate chance which
led me to call here today-who knows what
that vile woman might not have said or done,
if she had found yea alone' My dear, you
are leading sadly unprotected, solitary life.
| don't like to think of it; want to see it
changed-especially after what has happened
today. MOI 10! it is useless to tell me that
YOU have your old nurse. She is too old; she
is not in your rank of lfe-there is no sutfi
Gent protection in the companionship of such
person for a lady in your position. Don't
mistake me, Agnes; what l say, say in the
sincerity of my devotion to you" He paused
and took her hand She made a feeble effort
to withdraw it-and yielded. "Will the day
never come" he pleaded when the privilege
of protecting you may be minei when you
will be the pride and joy of my life, as long
as my life lastsl" He pressed her hand
gently. She made no reply. The color came
and went on her face; her eyes were turned
away from him Have been so unhappy
as to offend your he asked
She answered that-she said, almost in a
whisper, NO"
Have distressed your
"You have made me think of the sad days
that are gone She said no more; she only
tried to withdraw her hand from his for the
second time. He still held it; he lifted it to
his lips.
"Can never make you think of other days
than those-of happier days to comes Or, if
you must think of the time that is passed,
can you not look back to the time when | first
loved your
She sighed as he put the question. "Spare
me, Henry" she answered sadly. Say no
more!"
The color rose again in her cheeks; her
hand trembed in his She looked lovely,
with her eyes cast down and her bosom heav
ing gently At that moment he would have
given everything he had in the world to take
her in his arms and kiss her Some mysteri-
Gus sympathy, passing from his hand to hers,
seemed to tell her what was i'll his mind.
She snatched her hand away and suddenly
looked up at him The tesrs were in her
eyes. She said nothing; she let her eyes
speak for her They warned him-without
anger, without unkindnesS-but still they
warned him to press her no further that day
"Only tell me that am forgiven he said,
as be rose from the sofa
"Yes," she answered, quietly, 'you are for
given
II have not lowered myself in your estima-
ton, Agnes"
"Oh, no,n
do you wish me 10 leave your
She rose in her turn from the sofa, and
walked to the writing table before she re-
piled. The unfinished letter which she had
been writing when Lady Montbarry inter
rupted her lay open on the blotting book. As
she looked at the letter, and then looked at
Henry, that smile that charmed everybody
showed itself in her face
"You must net 20 just yet she said; al
have something 10 tell you. | hardly know
how TO express it. The shortest way, per.
haps, will be to let YOU find it out for your.
self. You have been speaking OF my lonely
unprotected life here 1t is not very happy
life, Henry own that She paused, OBJ
serving the growing anxiety of his expression
as he looked at her with a shy satisfaction
that perplexed him DO YOU know that
have anticipated our ideaf she went on. "a
am going TO make great change iii my life
if your brother Stephen and his wife vii
only consent to it, She opened the desk o
her writing table while she spoke, took a let
ter out and handed it to Henry.
He received it from her mechanically
Vague doubts. which be hardly understood,
himself, kept him silent II was impossbl
that the "chauge in her life Of which sh
had spoken. could mean that she was abou
TO be maIried-and vet he was conscious Of
perfectly unreasonable reluctance to open tn
letter Their eyes met; she smiled again
Look al the address, she said. "You ougll
To know the hnndwriting-bu dare say yo
don't
He looked at the address 1t was in til
large, irregular, uncertain writing of child
He opened the letter instantly:
"DEAR AUNT AGNES: Our governess
going away. She has had money left to he
and house of her own We have had oak
and wine TO drink her health. You promise
to be our governess if we wanted another
We want you. Mamma knows nothing abOu
this. Please come before mamma can e.
another COVERINGS. Your loving Lucy VIII
writes this Clara and Blanche have tried I
y
They blot the paper
"Your eldest niece" Agnes explained, q
Henry looked at her i'll amazement "Th
children used to call ME aunt when | WE
staying with their mother III Ireland, in I'll
autumn. The three girls were my inseparabl
companions-they are the most charInin
children | know. 1t is quite true that
offered to be their governess, if they eve
wanted one. on this day when | left them I
return to London. l was writing to propo:
it to their mother Just before you came"
"Not seriouslyf' Henry exclaimed
Agnes placed her unfinished letter in b
hand. Enough Of it had been written to sho
that she did seriously propose to enter ii
household of Mr.. and Mrs Stephen WestwiC
as governess to their children Henry's b
wilderment was not to he expressed in word
They won't believe you are in earnest
he said
why notP Agnes asked, quietly.
You are my brother Stephens cou5il
you are his wife's old friend
"Ali the more reason, Henry, for trustil
me with the charge of their children"
but you are their equal; you are n,
Obliged to gain your living by teachin
There is something absurd in your enteriI
their service as a governess"
What is there absurd in it, The childre
love me; the mother loves me; the father b.
shown me innumerable instances of his trl
friendship and regard | am the very wonlB
FOR the place, and US TO my education, mu
have completely forgotten it, indeed, if
am not tit to teach three children. the eide
OF whom is only II years old You 50
am their equal Are there no other wome
who serve as governess, and who are the equa
Oh the persons whom they servei Beside
don't know that | am their equal Have
not heard that your brother Stephen was Il
next heir to the title, Will he not be the ne
lord! Never mind answering me. We wor
dispute whether l am right or wrong in tur
ing governess We will wait the event. | a
weary OF my lonely, useless existence her
and eager to make my life more happy al
more useful in the household of all others
which should most like to have place
you will look again you will see that | ha'
THESE personal considerations still to urge b
fore finish my letter. You don't know yol
brother and his wife as well as do il v,
doubt their answer. | believe they ha
courage enough and heart enough to say YES
Henry submitted without being convince
he was a man vino disliked all eccentr
departures from custom and routine, and
Ieit especially suspicious of the change pr
posed IN the life of Agnes. With new int
ISIS 70 occupy her mind she might be Il
iavorably disposed to listen to him on t
next occasion when h.. ,,r,,ad hi, emit TT